January 2009 Archives

Because a houseplant grew big, I transplanted it into a one size bigger flower pot.
I wanted to spread white makeup sand on the top because it was a white flowerpot,
so I ran in 100 yen shop to buy white makeup sand.
The Japanese 100 yen shop has a wide selection of goods.
SHINAKAZU GA TOTTEMO HOUFU DESU.
When I want life miscellaneous goods(SEIKATSU ZAKKA),
I go to the 100 yen shop first of all
WATASHI HA 100 YEN SHOPPU NI IKIMASU.
Then I can be able to get most things I want there.
TAITEI NO MONO HA SOKO DE SOROIMASU



←It is the makeup sand which I bought in 100 yen shop.
Such an article is not readily found in supermarket and flower shop either.
KONNA MONO HA, SU-PA- YA OHANAYA SAN DEMO NAKANAKA MITSUKERUKOTOHA DEKIMASEN.




I cannot despise 100 yen shop.
100 YEN SHOPPU HA ANADOREMASEN.
Because I was so impressed about it, I picked up "Japanese 100 yen shop" for my blog.
I introduce the thing which I buy it for 100 yen so far,
and the things which is very handy!!
WATASHI GA, 100YEN SHOPPU DE KATTA MONO DE,
TOTTEMO CHOUHOU SHITE IRU MONO WO SHOUKAI SHIMASU.







An elephant watering pot for children.(ZOU SAN NO JOURO)
There was watering pot just like this since I was small.
WATASHI GA CHIISAI KORO KARA ONAJI YOUNA JOURO GA ARIMASHITA.
But, in those days, this cannot have been 100 yen....
DEMO 100 YEN DEHA KAEMASENDESHITAYO....





An electric bulb.(DENKYUU)
They sell different size of electric bulbs, and also the battery(DENCHI), too.
It makes me feel like that I'm in the electricity shop.
NANDAKA DENKIYA SAN NI IRUMITAI NA KANJI GA SHIMASU.





This is my favorite one.
OKINIIRIDESU.
It is just a small chair for children,
A color is bright red and is very pretty.
MAKKA DE TOTEMO KAWAII!!
When my friend came to my house.
They always ask me.
"Where did you get this chair?
Which 100 yen shop?"
"KONO ISU DOKODE KATTA NO? DOKO NO 100 YEN SHOPPU?" TO KIKI MASU.


This is pick to use for a hors d'oeuvre and dessert.
Various kinds are sold.
(IROIRO NA SHURUI GA ARIMASU.)
There are so many kinds, so I would want to collect all of the kinds.
TAKUSAN ARU KARA ATSUMETAKU NATTESHIMAIMASU.
When I wash tableware because the pick is so small,
it disappear under cover of garbage immediately.
DEMO, (But) it's just 100 yen, so that I can finish it without crying.    







The Plastic dish and a glass.
It's 100 yen each.
It's Microwaveable.
The heat-resistant plastic tableware is not readily sold for only 100 yen.
This is very convenient for a small child!   
CHIISAI KODOMO NI TOTTEMO BENRI NANO DESU!!





When I go to 100 yen shop with my kids, they always ask me to buy a toy.
"Buy me a toy!!"
"OMOCHA WO KATTE-!!"
In the 100 yen shop, a lot of toy(OMOCHA) and stationery(BUNNBOUGU) are sold, too.
Because it's all 100 yen.
I think "Okay, I'll buy it."
But, I think it is not good to spend money so idly.
(OKANE NO MUDA ZUKAI.)
And I think it's not good for child not to take good care of
all the toys that I buy for my kids at 100 yen shop, from an educational standpoint.

The 100 yen shop article which a child chooses is interesting, though.
"Wow!! Is there such a thing like this, too?"
TOTTEMO OMOSHIROI DESU.
I get so surprised.
For example,(TATOEBA)



Do you know what this is?
KOREGA NANIKA WAKARIMASUKA?
This is called iron art beads.
These seem to be popular among the preschooler.









You display beads with a favorite color on a transparent stand.
And do ironing from the top if you finish displaying all the beads.
AIRON WO KAKEMASU.
Beads melt by the heat of the iron and become one piece of plate.








This is a sticker of the touch such as the gummy　bear.
It sticks to the window.
(MADO NI PITTARI TO KUTTSUKI MASU.)
You can surely buy this abroad.
But, I don't think you can buy it only 100yen.
DEMO 100 YEN JA KAEMASEN YONE?


Did I make you wanna go shopping in 100yen shop?
100 YEN SHOPPU NI IKITAKU NARIMASHITAKA?







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<NOBI~RU, OMOCHI NO SHIAWASE.>

I am drying OMOCHI (the rice cake) which I made for
OSHOUGATSU(New Year holidays) well.
OMOCHI  HA, NIHONDE FURUKUKARA TABERARETE KITA SHOKUHIN DESU.
Rice cake has been eaten for a long time in Japan.
OMOCHI(Rice cake) is made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and
molded into shape by hand.

MOCHITSUKI is the traditional mochi-pounding ceremony in Japan.
The cooked rice is pounded with wooden mallets (KINE) in a traditional mortar (USU).
Two people will alternate the work, one pounding and the other turning and wetting the MOCHI(rice cake).
They must keep a steady rhythm or they may accidentally injure one another with the heavy KINE(wooden mallets.)
There are few families having such a tool recently.



OMOCHI (Rice cake) may also be made in an automatic mochi machine,
similar to a bread maker.
Both the thing to cook rice and the mixed up thing can be easily done by this now.
You might think the insipidity.
CHIKAGOROHA, (Recently), there are a lot of people who buy OMOCHI (the rice cake) in the shop because even making with the rice cake machine is also time-consuming.








When I eat OMOCHI (a rice cake),
MAZUHA,(at first) I toast it with a toaster.
(We originally bake it with a SHICHIRIN (clay charcoal stove) or a HIBACHI (brazier),  use a KAKKOII AITEMU (cool item), but. There are few families using it now.)











I soak OMOCHI (a rice cake) hot from the oven
in hot water and smooth it off.











Hey hey hey
Stop eating  it girl .
She mixes the powder of the DAIZU (soy bean), SATOU (sugar), little SHIO (salt) together and makes KINAKO (soybean flour.)











OMOCHI NI, KONO KINAKO WO
TAPPURI TSUKETE...
coat this rice cake with lots of kinako...







DEKIAGARI
The completion!

KORE HA AMAKUTE OISHIIDESU.
It is sweet and is delicious.
 
KODOMO MO DAISUKI DESU.
A child loves it, too.






SARANI, (Furthermore), KINAKO (the soybean flour) is very nutritious because it is DAIZU (a soy bean).
There is a person who puts soybean flour in the yogurt and eats in Japan.
I wish soybean flour become popular as a health food abroad, too.







Here is Mamemochi.
(Bean rice cake.)
If the KUROMAME (black soybean) is put when OMOCHI (the rice cake) is mixed up, it becomes it in this way.








Bake it brown first.
Then dipping it into a mixture of SHOUYU (soy sauce), MIZU (water) and SATOU (sugar).
And wrap it with NORI (seaweed paper.)
DEKIAGARI
Completion





The cooking of OMOCHI (the rice cake) raises the mood of OSHOUGATSU. (New Year holidays.)
I do not think that I want to eat OMOCHI (a rice cake) in summer.

Surely the food which is traditional in all countries will be the taste which matches in the season.

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<The traditional Japanese New Year foods>

SATE(Well), OSHOUGATSU(New Year holidays) when I returned to
the parents' house.
KONKAI TO JIKAI HA,(This time and next time,) I introduce a typical appearance
at OSHOUGATSU(New Year holidays) there.
WATASHI NO JIKKA HA, HEIBON NA KATEI DESUGA,
My parents' house is an ordinary family,
My parents are still GENKI(energetic) and they like people gathering,
The preparation(JUNBI) for the dish(RYOURI) and the decoration(KAZARITSUKE), etc.
at OSHOUGATSU(New Year holidays) are tidied every year(MAITOSHI).
Please read it like a feeling invited to the Japanese family.

The upper photograph is "IKEBANA (flower arrangement)" of the TOKONOMA(alcove).
WATASHINO HAHA HA, CHIISAI KORO KARA "IKEBANA" WO NARATTEIMASHITA.
My mother learned "flower arrangement" since she was small.
So she can arrange it for this much in around 5 minutes.
ATTO IU MA DESU.
"SHASHIN NI TORANAIDE!"
"Don't take a picture of it!"
My mother said half in joke(JOUDAN).
Because this was not made well(JOUZU NI DEKINAKATTASHI),
and it is the flower which she bought in a neighboring market(ICHIBA).


KOREHA, KAGAMI MOCHI DESU.
This is a round shaped rice-cake.
On a wooden stand(KI DE DEKITA DAI),
lay a paper(KAMI) on it.
SOSHITE, UE NI KAZARI MASU.
And you display it on the top.
NIHON HA, KI TO KAMI NO BUNKA GA ARIMASU.
Japan has culture of wood and paper.
SHIROI KAGAMI MOCHI HA, WATASHI NO JIKKA DE TSUKURIMASHITA.
The white rice cake was made at my parents' house.
I introduce OMOCHI RYOURI (The traditional rice cake dishes)  on the next time.




The flower (HANA) which was in the "IKEBANA (flower arrangement)"
of the photograph(SHASHIN), it was also planted in the garden.
HONTOU HA, KOREHA HANA DEHA NAKU HAPPA DESU.
In fact(HONTOU HA), these are leaves(HAPPA), not a flower(HANA).
"HABOTAN" TO IU SHOKUBUTSU DESU.
It is an "ornamental cabbage".
I think that it's the same kind(ONAJI SHURUI) as cabbages(KYABETSU).
Note) I don't think you can eat it. It is not edible.
KORE HA, TABERAREMASEN.

My mother likes to decorate the entrance(GENKAN) according to the season.
Because it's a OSHOUGATSU(New Year), so she displayed a lucky thing(ENGI NO YOI MONO).
These few days ago, the entrance was Christmas specifications.
In Japan, we redecorate it hastily from Christmas version to New Year version.
ISOGASHII DESU NE.
Therefore the redecoration of the store seems to be also hard.
TAIHEN DESU.


The decoration put toward you is called "KAI AWASE (Shellfish putting together)".
It is traditional game(DENTOU TEKI NA ASOBI DESU.) to Japan
at HEIAN JIDAI(the Heian era) (1000 years or more ago).
A painting was drawn inside of the shell.
Turn it over(HIKKUEIKAESHITE) and find the one with the same painting.
We play as a nervous breakdown(SHINKEI SUIJAKU) of card game.


SOSHITE, OSECHI RYOURI(The traditional Japanese New Year foods.)
OSECHIRYOURI have a meaning in each.
FUTSUUHA (Usually), we display all food neatly in a JUUBAKO (tiered food boxes)
like this and put it on the dining table.

Meaning that the prawn(EBI) lives long so that their back bends.
We also eat KAZUNOKO (herring roe),  which is not in the photograph,
KAZU means "number" and KO means "child".
It symbolizes a wish to be gifted with numerous children in the New Year.
SHISON HANEI(Descendant prosperity)

In the bean(MAME) dish, there is a wish that it is possible to live in "MAME(Diligence)".
MATA(In addition), food is good for two or three days, so it is advantageous in
that the japanese woman does not need to do kitchen work
If it is the foreigner who got used to Japanese foods, because these foods are well seasoned with soy sauce and sugar, you may love all these dishes.

OSHOUGATSU NO GOCHISOU GA SEIZOROIDESU.
The feast of New Year holidays is an array,  I only need to add rice cake food afterward.
WATASHI HA, OMOCHI GA DAISUKI DESU.
I love a rice cake!
At next week, I introduce how to eat rice cakes.

Please tell me about New Year and Christmas holidays of your country, too.
OSHIETE KUDASAI NE!!







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A Happy New Year
AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU.
How was your OSHOUGATSU(New Year holiday)?
I returned to my parents' house.
WATASHI HA JIKKA NI KAETTE IMASHITA.
Relatives(SHINSEKI) gathered and were happy after a long absence(HISASHIBURI).

A photograph(SHASHIN) is the one I took when I went for HATSUMOUDE
(a New Year's visit to a Shinto shrine).
It is a small(CHIISAI) JINJA(Shinto shrine) near my house.(IE NO CHIKAKU DESU.)
The famousShinto shrine(YUUMEINA JINNJA) is full of a large number of people,
but I like JINJA(the Shinto shrine) which rooted in the land.
When I step in to the sanctuary surrounded by grove of the village shrine
in the morning of January 1st.(We say GANTAN OR GANJITSU)
I really feel refreshing.
TOTTEMO SUGASUGASHII KIBUN NI NARIMASU.
WATASHI HA CHOU SHINPURUNA KAGAMIMOCHI WO HAKKEN SHIMASHITA.
(I discovered the super simple round rice cakes),
which someone offered(OSONAE) it to the gods for New Year's time!

 

I guess there might be someone offering it every year secretly.
SATE(Well), about the round rice cakes(KAGAMIMOCHI),
I will talk more about it next time.








When he or she goes to visit a shrine on New Year's Day(We say HATSUMOUDE),
OSAISEN(the money offering) is thrown out, and most people do this year's wish.
For their KENKOU(good health), KANAIANZEN(well-being of the family), KINUN(economic fortune),  DEAI(a new boy friend or new girl friend),
and SHIGOTO(work) and GAKUGYOU(studies), and so on.
Whenever I stand in this place every year, I thank for being here with a family cheerfully in this way.
I don't tell anybody about my wishes(NEGAIGOTO) of HATSUMOUDE(the New Year's visit to a Shinto shrine).
But I'll raise my courage and tell you my wishes.
It is always "ARIGATOU(Thank you)."

I don't know why.
But, the weather at the New Year is fine every year
(OSHOUGATSU HA MAITOSHI II OTENKI DESUNE.)
as feelings at the New Year are bright.
Do not all of you living in Japan think so?
NIHON NO MINASAN SOU OMOI MASENKA?
There are not many rainy(AME) OSHOUGATSU(New Year holidays).
On January 1 of this year, it was fine weather.
KOTOSHI NO GANJITSU HA II OTENKI DESHITA.

Because it was soooooooooo beautiful sky,
I took a photograph. SHASHIN WO PACHIRI!!
This photograph is now on desktop screen of my PC.

SATE(Well), for two weeks from next time.
I introduce the appearance of New Year holidays of JIKKA(my parents' house).
It's gonna be fun!!
OTANOSHIMINI!!

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